T’ganu students have fun with English

FEAR of getting their grammar wrong and sounding awkward is often the key obstacle to developing English language proficiency among many Malaysian students. This is especially so in a classroom environment, where they feel that they are constantly observed and judged.

But given a casual and relaxed environment where they are allowed to practice English without constraints, things could be a lot different.

This was the case for 150 Form Two and Form Four students from 15 high-need schools across Terengganu who recently completed a three-day English language enhancement camp in Kuala Terengganu. Named Super Teens: The Empowerment English Camp 2016, the three-day programme saw the students interacting with Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) serving in Terengganu schools through fun and creative activities.

A collaboration between the Terengganu State Education Department, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc. (EMEPMI) and the ETAs, the programme has run for three consecutive years.

This year it was themed “Find the Superhero in you”, focusing on participants’ empowerment through self-awareness — raising the self-confidence of students and encouraging them to have a vision of what they want to do with their future; to discuss issues; and boost their English language skills.

“The Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 states that every child should be proficient in English — meaning upon leaving school, the student should be able to speak and communicate well enough to gain employment.

“To be able to do this, students must have the adequate skills and more importantly, the confidence, to converse and communicate in English. Students in Terengganu are much challenged in the area of communicating due to a severe lack of confidence. But through camps like this, students have the chance to cultivate their confidence which hopefully will grow here onwards,” said Terengganu State Economics Planning Unit Datuk A Rahman Yahya, at the closing ceremony of the camp.

Meanwhile, EMEPMI General Manager, Upstream Business Analysis and Reporting, Nabilah Abdul Mubin said the camp provided the context for students to improve their English language skills while developing the competencies that will bode them well in their future careers and in the real world in general.

“By helping students gain a better understanding and appreciation of the roles they play in society, we hope they will be inspired to be upstanding citizens who contribute towards the betterment of the communities they live in,” she added.